David Schwartz to Step Back as Ripple CTO, Be Named CTO Emeritus and May Retain Influence on XRP

• Leadership change at Ripple announced

• Schwartz becomes CTO emeritus and joins the board; Dennis Jarosch will lead engineering.

• On-chain data showed a ~1.4% XRP price uptick after the announcement (Nansen data).

David Schwartz Ripple CTO steps back — official update, XRP market reaction, and next steps; read the full leadership briefing.

David Schwartz was one of the chief architects behind the XRP Ledger and is well known by many in the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry.

Who is David Schwartz and what did he announce?

David Schwartz, a founding engineer of the XRP Ledger, announced he will scale back his day-to-day duties as Ripple CTO at the end of this year and transition to CTO emeritus while joining Ripple’s board of directors.

What will change in Ripple’s leadership when David Schwartz steps back?

Schwartz will retain an advisory and board role as CTO emeritus, providing institutional knowledge and technical guidance. Senior vice president of engineering Dennis Jarosch will take operational leadership of the engineering team going forward.

How did markets react to the announcement?

On-chain analytics from Nansen recorded an immediate market response: XRP price rose roughly 1.4% from $2.83 to $2.87 in the hours after the announcement. XRP’s market capitalization remains among the largest in crypto, reflecting steady community interest.

Source: David Schwartz

Schwartz joined Ripple in 2011 as a cryptographer and became chief technology officer in 2018. In a public post, he said he looks forward to more family time and resuming personal hobbies, while assuring the community he will remain engaged with XRP users and developers.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse praised Schwartz’s contributions, calling him a “true OG in crypto.” The company confirmed internally that Dennis Jarosch will assume leadership of day-to-day engineering operations.

Why does this matter for the XRP Ledger and Ripple’s product roadmap?

Schwartz’s technical legacy includes core protocol design and long-term architecture work for the XRP Ledger. His move to an emeritus position preserves his influence while enabling new operational leadership to execute near-term engineering milestones.

Will Ripple’s strategy or political activity change with this leadership shift?

There is no immediate sign of strategic pivot. Ripple continues to participate in regulatory and market initiatives. The company previously contributed to political activity in the U.S. and has been engaged in public legal and regulatory matters that shaped its business trajectory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is David Schwartz’s new role at Ripple?

He will take the honorary title of CTO emeritus and join Ripple’s board of directors, offering strategic and technical guidance while stepping away from daily engineering management.

How will engineering responsibilities be handled after the change?

Dennis Jarosch, senior vice president of engineering, will assume operational leadership of the engineering organization and oversee ongoing product and protocol development.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership shift: David Schwartz transitions to CTO emeritus and board member, preserving institutional knowledge.
• Operational continuity: Dennis Jarosch will lead engineering operations to maintain product momentum.
• Market signal: XRP experienced a modest price uptick (~1.4%) shortly after the announcement, per on-chain analytics.

Conclusion

David Schwartz’s move from active CTO to CTO emeritus and board member marks a planned leadership transition that retains his expertise while enabling new operational leadership at Ripple. The change supports continuity for the XRP Ledger and keeps the company on track for its technical roadmap. For official updates, refer to Ripple statements and company communications.